I just joined a CSA! Anyone ever done this?

[sherahtaylor]

I was doing some digging the other day for more raw food restaurants or places to purchase organic food in my area and found out about CSA's. They sound AWESOME!! Has anyone ever done this?

Here's a link to find one in your area:

http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/csa/csa.shtml

From what I understand, it's a community shared "farm" - where different families pay a one-time fee to pay the farmer and/or expenses, and in return they receive a share of that year's produce. There are several in my area and after researching a bit, the one I found DELIVERS :D weekly boxes of produce as they come ripe.

Everything is grown organically and the deliveries are from June through October totalling 19 deliveries (some farms it is May - December, but cost more). They also include a "salsa" week where you can go to the farm and pick up to 50lbs of tomatoes, garlic, onion, etc for making salsa. Mmmm I can't wait for the tomatoes!!

The cost is $26 per week and last year each family received over 400 pounds of food. I am the only raw member of my family so I don't need to get alot, but I'm excited to receive organic food straight from a local farm, delivered, for less than it cost to buy it at the store. We'll see - I'll let you know how it goes!

[pdx kris]

Yep! I have a share in a CSA here and I love it! Usually there are things I don't eat in it, like potatoes, but I split my share with a friend and she's nuts about potatoes, and not so nuts about other stuff in it that I love, so it works out great.

Way to go, supporting local agriculture is awesome! (And as you can see, saves you a lot of money too. :) )

[sherahtaylor]

I'm glad to hear you have had good experiences with it! I'm also excited to find new recipes and learn to like new foods like eggplant. =)

[swingbolder]

My family has belonged to a CSA for the last three years. It is great. The food is SOOO fresh, and I especially love the "pick your own" areas, where you can get all the tomatoes and flowers you could ever want.

[Apasaraw]

Thanks for this Sherah!

I have a friend with a small farm and is trying to figure out how to make it work for the community better as they all love it! She has visitors and supporters galore but needs a plan. This is a great plan in place already...

You just made an organic farm happen! :)
Thank you!

[girlsmiley]

I belong to something like a CSA. This woman had participated in CSAs and was disappointed during the winter when there wasn't anything available. So she started "The Little Red Wagon". We pay $25 every other week for one share and we receive a bushel basket full of organic goodies. As much as possible comes from local farms, like the hydroponic lettuce and some root vegetables. The rest of the items (bananas, oranges, etc.) are purchased in bulk from somewhere.

I am looking forward to the spring, summer, and fall to see what goodies are bulging out of my basket. I joined in December. The woman who runs this knows that I eat raw so she trys to swap potatoes etc. with others who are willing to give up other stuff. Like one time I got an extra daikon radish instead of potatoes. This time we got some yams and I juiced one with oranges and pears ... my son really liked it.

[sherahtaylor]

Me too - this will be my FIRST summer raw and I absolutely cannot wait! DH said we could get another freezer so I am planning to do alot of picking myself, and freezing. But the COOLEST thing about the CSA farm I picked is that we do get to pick & choose what we receive! Check this out:

"On your order form you will be able to remove items that you don't want to receive, diminish quantities of those you want to receive less of, and trade them for items of which you would like to receive more, based on availability of course. I am willing to consider growing other vegetables (or additional varieties of vegetables that I'm already growing). If you have something you'd like to add, let's talk about it!"

[Snownoir]

WOW... thank you soo much for this link. I'm really really excited. I think this will help me save money too!
Thank you!

[KatK]

Thanks for the tip!